"The new headquarters, wherever it is located, must deal with a fundamental threat. It will inevitably be a high-priority target for terrorists, spies, and cyber criminals. That means the single most important consideration must be the safety of the men and women who work there; secondarily, the security of highly sensitive investigative and national security data held inside; lastly, the security of adjacencies - both human and physical."
"Independent security consultants warned that the Reagan Building's sprawling 11-Acre complex, mixed-use design, convention space, vast underground parking garage left it vulnerable to terrorist attacks. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks confirmed that the FBI needed a new headquarters complex - one that satisfied Interagency Security Committee (ISC) Level V protocols - the highest security standards for nonmilitary federal facilities."
"A retrofit of the 30-year-old Reagan Building will fail to meet the physical and cybersecurity requirements of Level V. The Reagan Building is a quasi-public building in the heart of downtown Washington, DC, designed as a center for international events and public use."
Congress faces a critical national security decision regarding FBI headquarters relocation. The current Hoover Building requires replacement, but the proposed solution—refurbishing the Reagan Building—presents significant security vulnerabilities. The Reagan Building's 11-acre mixed-use complex, convention space, and underground parking garage have been identified as terrorist targets since the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Post-9/11 security standards require new FBI facilities to meet Interagency Security Committee Level V protocols, the highest security standards for nonmilitary federal facilities. A 30-year-old Reagan Building retrofit cannot satisfy these physical and cybersecurity requirements. Employee safety, sensitive data protection, and surrounding area security must take priority over cost considerations in selecting the new headquarters location.
#fbi-headquarters-relocation #national-security #building-security-standards #counterterrorism-infrastructure
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